New England NSW - Armidale

Aboriginal Connections

Mount Yarrowyck Nature Reserve, is one the best locations to see a significant example of Aboriginal rock art created by the local Armidale Aboriginal people - the Anaiwan. Although the meanings of the markings are unclear, you can see what looks like birds' tracks and circles. These paintings were created by mixing red ochre and water and painted onto the granite rocks with fingers or sticks.

Many Aboriginal groups including the Anaiwan used the New England gorges as highways to migrate to the tablelands during spring, summer and autumn from the coast or the western tablelands. It is believed that the Aboriginal groups left the tablelands during the winters as they were and still are very harsh, and the nights extremely cold (most winter nights range from+3 to -10°C.) Trading also occurred between different groups.

The area around Armidale is very rich in bush food including mammals such as possums, gliders, wallabies and kangaroos, lizards; and fish, tortoises and crustaceans in the many rivers.

There is an interesting museum in Armidale next door to NERAM, the New England Regional Art Museum in Kentucky St. Known as the Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place it has 'a permanent Aboriginal collection which focuses on arts and artefacts from the New England region.' (* quoted from the Keeping Place website). It is well worth a visit if you are interested in Aboriginal culture.